Artwork
Achillea millefolium
Achillea millefolium is a print by Karl Blossfeldt. It dates from 1928 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Achillea millefolium is a 1928 photogravure print by Karl Blossfeldt, featuring a close-up of a plant with numerous tiny white flowers and densely packed, feathery dark leaves. The work showcases the artist's ability to capture intricate natural forms through photography.
Subject & Meaning
The subject, Achillea millefolium (yarrow), is portrayed to emphasize its structural and geometric patterns. Blossfeldt's focus on light interaction with the plant's elements highlights the beauty in natural, organic subjects, reflecting his exploration of growth patterns inspired by his father's interests.
Technique & Style
Created as a photogravure, the piece demonstrates Blossfeldt's mastery of translating photographic images into prints. The use of light and shadow achieves a near three-dimensional effect, particularly in the rendering of the petals against a dark background.
History & Provenance
Achillea millefolium was published in 1929 in Blossfeldt's seminal work *Urformen der Kunst* (Archetypes of Art), a collection showcasing his detailed plant studies. The image is characteristic of his photographic series emphasizing the structural aspects of natural forms.
Context
Part of a broader body of work by Blossfeldt, Achillea millefolium is one of many plant photographs the artist produced, all sharing a common theme of revealing the intricate geometries found in nature.
Artist & collection
Artist
Karl Blossfeldt (13 June 1865 – 9 December 1932) was a German photographer and sculptor.
